Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) have resolved to commence their industrial action on September 1, after what they termed as reluctance on the governments part to address their grievances.
The workers had initially issued a 7-day strike notice to protest the proposed leasing of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to India's Adani Group.
But a call to the table for talks by the government led to postponement of the strike by two weeks, which KAWU now says has not been fruitful.
Secretary General of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union Moss Ndiema announced that following a delegates meeting held Saturday 24, the strike will now take place as earlier scheduled.
“Effective September 1, all aviation workers in the country will paralise operations across the country until our demands are met,” said Ndiema.
KAWU maintained that they will only come to the table once the Adani Airport Holdings Limited deal has been completely abandoned, and their proposal, deemed unlawful, has been nullified and discarded.
The Aviation workers are also calling for resignation of the Kenya Airport Authority top officials to avert the strike set for next week.
The Union claimed that the government had not adhered to legal requirement on public participation after the withdrew its membership from any involvement in Adani deal.
The union has repeatedly called for the government to halt the leasing negotiations, warning that it could have severe implications for the aviation industry and workers' rights.
Workers feared the potential privatisation would lead to job losses, reduced benefits, and deteriorating working conditions.
The union has also been demanding for the resignation of KAA board, which is currently chaired by Caleb Kosittany.
Kawu maintains that KAA has sufficient resources, which can be mobilised to ensure JKIA is expanded instead of sourcing for private firms to undertake the works.
“Between 2021 and 2023, the Government of Kenya through Treasury has collected a total of Kenya Shilings 25 billion from KAA. That money is more than enough to construct a fully-fledged terminal, no one, even two terminals and a runway,” said Ndiema.
